CFE Accused of Corruption in $48M Employee Wallet Deal

Mexico City — The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) faces serious allegations of corruption following the controversial awarding of a multi-million peso contract for electronic wallets, a key employee benefit program for over 16,000 workers. The contract, granted to Industrias Haber’s, S.A. de C.V. on July 25, has sparked accusations of irregularities, including conflicts of interest and the selection of a company lacking relevant experience. Internal documents and technical evaluations suggest the decision may cost workers an estimated 48.9 million pesos in lost benefits.

Questionable Decision-Making Process

The international open tender, labeled CFE-0001-CASAT-0023-2025, was managed by CFE’s Distribution Subdirectorate, led by Gustavo García Huirache, Yessica Karina Lara Zenteno, Ricardo Treviño Pérez, and Raymundo Gándara Molina. The contracting area, overseen by Javier Moncayo Piña, Gerardo Octavio Vela y Caneda, José Aurelio de la Vega Ángeles, Raquel Magaña Rojas, and Emilio Fuentes Jaramillo, approved the selection despite competing proposals offering superior terms.

Rejected Proposal Offered Greater Benefits

SE Transaccionales, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the only other bidder to reach the economic evaluation phase, presented significantly better conditions:

• An 8% discount for CFE
• A direct 20% discount for employees

In contrast, Haber’s offered only a 5.3% discount. Critics allege SE Transaccionales was unfairly penalized with an unexplained 20-point deduction, tilting the decision in favor of Haber’s.

Documented Irregularities

Complaints highlight several red flags in the selection process:

Lack of Experience and Dubious Business Focus

• Haber’s primary business is accessory manufacturing, with only 10% of sales in leather goods.
• The company has no prior experience operating as a department store or managing electronic wallets.

Insufficient Retail Network

• Haber’s fails to meet the minimum required store presence in 12 Mexican states.
• States like Chihuahua, Baja California Sur, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo have no affiliated stores.

Outdated Technology

• The proposed cards lack basic security features, including chips, magnetic strips, and CVV codes.

Alleged Manipulation of Evaluation

• SE Transaccionales demonstrated a functional app and web platform (SETpay) but received only 10 out of 20 points.
• Despite showcasing over 20,000 affiliated stores, the company was awarded just 10 points for commercial network coverage.

Direct Impact on CFE Employees

Workers will face reduced purchasing power as the electronic wallets will only be valid at select stores like Robert’s and High Life, which exclude essential categories such as women’s products, maternity items, and footwear. Many employees may need to travel to other states to use the benefit, undermining its practicality.

Calls for Intervention

Affected parties have urged the Mexican Electrical Workers' Union (SUTERM) and CFE’s internal oversight bodies to review the contract. Critics warn that without corrective action, the program risks becoming a backdoor deal between suppliers and officials, straying from its intended purpose.

The case has drawn attention from public and private sector observers, reigniting concerns about corruption in state-owned enterprises like CFE. Transparency advocates warn this could become a symbol of systemic mismanagement if left unaddressed.